Teaching Electromagnetic Theory to Electrical Engineering Undergraduates

Abstract

Electromagnetic theory is usually an integral part of the undergraduate curriculum in Electrical Engineering in our universities. It is also usually the subject least-liked by students. For a long time, EM theory has been taught to undergraduates with an overwhelming bias towards communication. Unfortunately, in a first EM theory course, it is difficult to bring out interesting and practical communication engineering examples to motivate the students and sustain their interest So it turns out that the major portion of the first basic course in EM theory becomes mainly the exposition of physical concepts through mathematical manipulations. Many concepts in EM theory are taught without any reference to their applications and students have to wait till much later to learn these applications. This does not make good engineering teaching.

If the first course in EM theory is taught in its own right without being made an appendage of communication engineering, it can be made interesting by bringing into the course the numerous practical applications from electro-mechanics and magneto-mechanics.

Several observations have been made here which may be useful in making the first course in electromagnetics an interesting one for electrical engineering undergraduates.

Indexing Terms:

• Teaching
• EM Theory
• Education